Public opinion in Montenegro Attitudes and Perceptions of EU

1
Public opinion in MontenegroAttitudes and
Perceptions of EU

• Elektra Tsigaridas
• Ministry for International Economic Relations and
  European Integration
• Stanka Dragojevica 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
  
• elektra_tsigaridas_at_yahoo.com, tel [phone]
  172, fax [phone], mob 381 69 581 943
• EU accession communication network, Ohrid, 21-22
  September 2006

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Public opinion polls

• High public support for EU in Montenegro
• Since 2003 around 80 would vote YES,
  in 2006 76,5 (CEDEM)

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Perception on EU positive
4
Benefits from EU Accession
2005 (in ) March June November
Montenegro will benefit a lot from EU membership 38,4 31,5 36
Montenegro will benefit, but not too much 46,7 55 50
Montenegro will not benefit 12,4 6,5 6,7
no answer 2,5 7 7,3
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Perception of knowledge on EU

• of perception of good knowledge increasing
• Weak knowledge decreasing

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Perception of information on European integration
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Expectations from the EU

• Mar 05
• growth of world economy
• protection of environment
• fight against terrorism
• peace in the world
• reduction of unemployment
• Nov 05 and Mar 06
• Economic prosperity (27,7 24,7 )
• Peace (25,5 26,5 )
• Freedom to travel ( 7,3 7.1 )

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Conclusions

• Good starting point for the information programme
• HOWEVER
• Very high expectations of the citizens (higher
  than in all EU25CC)
• Lack of understanding of EU
• Lack of comprehensive research and processed data
  for comm. strategy